Rationale:

• In an environment of constrained resources, public health decision makers are challenged to obtain adequate resources, prioritize program strategies and policies, and maximize health impact.
• The influence of economics in guiding public health policy and programs has been sub-optimal, limited by the perception that the discipline is overly theoretical and not readily applicable to public health decision-making. Enhancing the role of economics in making public health decisions and formulating public health policy is a challenge for economists who work in the public sector.
• The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is the largest public health agency in the world. Health economics capacity at CDC has grown from one economist in 1995 to more than 50 economists in 2008. CDC researchers work on economic issues related to the prevention and control of nearly all major infectious and chronic diseases, injury, reproductive and children’s health, obesity, smoking and more.

Objective: To share lessons learned by CDC economists in applying economic principles to issues related to disease prevention and control and to enhance the role of economics in making public health decisions and influence public health policy.
Discussant:John M Blandford, PhD

Senior Scientific Advisor for Public Health Evaluation

Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator (OGAC)

U.S. Department of State

2100 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Suite 200

Washington, DC 20037